Where were we in the Milky Way in 2012?
Bottom line: Earth didn’t physically cross the plane of our Milky Way galaxy in 2012, but Earth did cross the galactic equator. That’s nothing special! As seen from the sun, Earth does this every year – twice.
What is galactic alignment?
The Galactic Alignment is a rare astronomical event that brings the solstice sun into alignment with the center of the Milky Way galaxy every 12,960 years.
When was the last galactic year?
It lasted approximately 56 million years, starting at the end of the Triassic Period, around 201.3 million years ago, and ending at the beginning of the Cretaceous Period, about 145.5 million years ago.
How do we know our location in the Milky Way?
Where, within this vast spiral structure, do our sun and its planets reside? We’re about 26,000 light-years from the center of the galaxy, on the inner edge of the Orion-Cygnus Arm. It’s sandwiched by two primary spiral arms, the Sagittarius and Perseus Arms.
Where are we in the Milky Way right now?
Our solar system is located about 2/3 of the way out from the Galactic Center toward the edge of the galaxy. We are, in fact, 26,000 light years from the center, or 153,000 trillion miles (246,000 trillion km).
What are the 2 galaxies closest to us?
Distance Information The closest known galaxy to us is the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy, at 236,000,000,000,000,000 km (25,000 light years) from the Sun. The Sagittarius Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy is the next closest , at 662,000,000,000,000,000 km (70,000 light years) from the Sun.
How old is earth in Galactic?
approximately 4.5 billion years old
Earth is approximately 4.5 billion years old, which means it has lived through about 20 complete loops around the galaxy.
Is the Milky Way at its closest alignment in 2012?
Such alignments can occur but these are a regular occurrence and can cause no harm (and, indeed, will not even be at its closest alignment during the 2012 solstice.) The details are as follows: Viewed far from city lights, a glowing path called the Milky Way can be seen arching across the starry sky.
When did the galactic alignment happen in 2012?
Many believe that the exact moment of this epochal alignment occurs on December 21, 2012. In actuality, the exact alignment has already occurred: “Based on the calculations of astronomer Jean Muess, we entered the one degree zone in 1926 and will leave the one degree zone in 2070.
Why is there a dark rift in the Milky Way?
Thick dust clouds block our night-time view of the Milky Way, creating what is sometimes called the Dark Rift. The fact that – from the viewpoint of Earth – the sun aligns with these clouds, or the galactic center, near the winter solstice is no cause for concern.
What was the position of the Sun in 2012?
The claim for 2012 links these two pieces of astronomical fact with a third – the position of the sun near the galactic center on Dec. 21, the winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere – to produce something that makes no astronomical sense at all.